Hand puppet



W. H. BALTIN May 31, 1955 HAND PUPPET Filed July 26, 1952 HAND PUPPET William H. Enltin, Highland Park, N. J. Application July 26, 1952, Serial No. 301,090

2 (Jlaims. (Cl. 46154) My invention relates generally to hand puppets, and specifically to hand puppets which are formed from a single sheet of material.

It is an object of my invention to provide a hand puppet that simulates animation.

It is among the further objects of my invention to provide a hand puppet which is formed of a single sheet of folded material.

It is yet a further object of my invention to provide a hand puppet which displays a full face divided into segments hingedly connected together.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a hand puppet which is inexpensive, simple in form and easy to construct.

These objects and advantages as well as other objects and advantages may be achieved by the device illustrated in the appended drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of my hand puppet before folding;

Figure 2 is a front view of it folded; and

Figure 3 is a partial rear view.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I form my puppet from a flat sheet 11 which is cut to display the outlines of the object that is to be simulated. In the drawings, I have shown by way of illustration only, the face of a bespectacled person. Three fold lines are formed across the sheet. The area from the top of the sheet to the first fold line 12, is the face 13 from the top of the head to the upper lip. From the first fold line 12, to the second fold line 14, the area represented is the roof of the mouth 15. From the second fold line 14 to the third fold line 16, the area represented is the bottom of the mouth 17. From the third fold line 16 to the end, the areas successively represented are the chin 18, the tie 19, and the collar 20.

From the first fold line 12, the sheet 11 folds back. From the second fold line 14, the sheet folds forward. And from the third fold line 16, the sheet 11 folds downwardly.

At the right and left sides of the lower edges of the face 13, lock-tabs 21 are formed. These lock-tabs are formed to engage with slots 22 in the roof of the mouth 15. The face 13 and the roof of the mouth 15 are thereby locked together and immobilized as to movement with respect to each other.

In a similar manner, at the right and left upper edges of the chin 18, lock-tabs 23 are formed. These locktabs engage with slots 24 in the bottom of the mouth 17. They serve to lock together the bottom of the mouth 17, and the chin 18, and immobilize them as to movement with respect to each other. As a result, with the lock-tabs 21, 21, 23, 23, set in the slots 22, 22, 24, 24, the only point of movement is at the fold line 14, which acts as a hinge for the movement of the face 13 with respect to the chin 18.

A short distance from the fold line 12, a representation of a series of upper front teeth are imprinted on a display tab 25. This display tab 25 is cut free along its lower edge 26 and has a fold line 27 along its upper edge. Thus, the display tab 25 may be folded or extended perpendicular to the plane of the roof 15 of the mouth to show the teeth when the mouth is opened. In correspondence with the teeth on the display tab 25. a slot 28 is provided in the bottom of the mouth 17 to States Patent "ice receive the display tab 25 when the jaws are brought together.

To aid in the manipulation of the puppet by the hand, a strap or retainer 29 is formed at the side of the roof 15 and is folded over in the manner shown in Figure 3. It is secured by an adhesive 30 to the back of the roof 15 of the mouth. The index, second, and third fingers of the operator may be slipped over the roof 15. In this manner the jaws of the puppet may be opened and closed in a lifelike manner. The thumb will be under the bottom 17 and will raise it as required. The fold line 14 acts as the hinge.

The foregoing description is merely intended to illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The component parts have been shown and described. They each may have substitutes which may perform a substantially similar function; such substitutes may be known as proper substitutes for the said components and may have actually been known or invented before the present invention; these substitutes are contemplated as being within the scope of the appended claims, although they are not specifically catalogued herein.

I claim:

1. A hand puppet comprising a sheet having three fold lines, the area between the edge of the sheet and the first fold line defining the upper portion of a face, the area between the first and second fold lines defining the roof of the mouth, the area between the second and third fold lines defining the bottom of the mouth, and the area between the third fold line and the edge 'of the sheet defining the lower portion of the face, laterally extending side edges on the upper portion of the face, a tab on each of the side edges of the upper por tion of the face and interlocked with slots in the roof of the mouth to hold the said face in curved position; laterally extending side edges in the lower portion of the face, a tab on each of the side edges of the lower portion of the face and interlocked with slots in the bottom of the mouth to hold the said lower portion of the face in curved position in correspondence with the upper portion of the face, and a strap attached at both ends to and extending behind the roof of the mouth from edge to edge.

2. A hand puppet comprising a sheet having a fold defining on one side the roof of the mouth and the other side the floor of the month, said fold further defining a hinge for the relative movement of the roof and floor of the mouth, a strap attached at both ends to and extending behind the roof of the mouth and adapted to receive a plurality of fingers of a hand and the bottom of the mouth being hingedly movable relative to the top by the thumb of the hand, an upper face portion formed integrally with the roof of the mouth, laterally extending side edges on the upper face portion, a tab on each of the side edges of the upper face portion interlocked with slots in the roof of the mouth to hold the upper face portion in curved position, a lower face portion formed integrally with the bottom of the mouth, laterally extending side edges on the lower face portion, and a tab on each of the side edges of the lower face portion interlocked with slots in the floor of the mouth to hold the lower face portion in curved position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,438,083 Baker Dec. 5, 1922 2,096,130 Phillips Oct. 19, 1937 2,130,343 Havel Sept. 20, 1938 2,170,953 Spots Aug. 29, 1939 2,412,321 Chu Dec. 10, 1946 2,571,744 Midouhas Oct. 16. 1951 

